DIY: Jewelry Tree

July 16, 2009

I love branches, especially as accents and I once saw a designer spray paint gigantic branches in a hot coral color, and place them in an urn on top of a piano in a very grand living room, it was stunning. While this look is a bit over the top for some, I have always wanted to spray paint branches to make them sculptural. So I was pruning my wild oak tree last weekend. It should be no surprise that I decided to use one of the Charlie Brown branches to make a jewelry holder.

I really am a Pollyanna. I like to hang sparkly things in front of windows and watch the light reflect throughout the room. So I decided to make my own version of a jewelry tree with a few supplies I had in my garage.

Step One: Find the right branch. Nothing too flimsy, nothing too heavy. Find a branch that has both interest and balance. You have to be Goldilocks and find one that’s just right. Pluck off all the leaves and allow it to dry out for a few days.

Step Three: Screw the wood together on the bottom, then drill a hole into the top of the base with a drill bit. Use spackle or wood filler to fill in any seams or gaps in your wood.

Step Four: Fill your hole with wood glue, stick your branch in the hole, and let it dry for 24 hours. Give your base a light sanding. If want a rustic quality, then consider painting only the base. But if you want color, then give your branches a coat of primer.

Primer helps to seal the wood. Allow it to dry. Use whatever spray paint you wish to give your jewelry tree the color you desire. One tip: Get up really close to the branches when you spray so that it almost drips. Don’t spray from far away – it’s pointless and you’ll waste a lot of paint.

To give my base more staying power, I anchored it to an old square mirror with some silicone rubber sealant. Lighter earrings hang on the more delicate branches, while the bigger branches support your heavier necklaces or bracelets. It’s a bit of a balancing game, but it’s fun nonetheless.

I love its sculptural qualities, its wintery whiteness, and its organic genesis. And I also love the fact that it cost me nothing. Now I hope you’ll be looking at tree branches in your yard or neighborhood with new interest.

Hi Kate, this is a great idea, i do the same thing at christmas time and hang vintage balls on the branches, only i dont bother with the base just pop it in a glass vase with fake snow in the base and it looks so beautiful…… as does yours, Amanda from Aus.

I love it! Mr. CG is so good to you, I can see him walking into the house after work and you handing him another list of things to get put together. :) I don't blame you though, that miter saw is scary.

It's beautiful, great idea! I also think putting the base of the branch in a cool vase or jar filled with rocks, sand, or vase "jewels" could hold it upright and help those of us without power tools, LOL!As a preschool teacher, I am always collecting branches, rocks, pine cones, and interesting seed pods for the kids to explore! I love beach combing, too!

Thanks for stopping by my teeny tiny blog!!! I've found so much inspiration and great ideas on yours it amazing!!! Don't laugh but I seriously stopped drinking my coffee and browsing my favorite blogs to go cut a branch of my tree in the backyard!! ;)

Your tutorial is awesome!!!! I was just looking at these on Urban Outfitters and was thinking of how much they reminded me of the project I did for Christmas. I actually collected a few branches myself and made a very cute and whimsical christmas tree this past winter. My branches were painted white just like yours and I stuck them in a vase with tiny rocks.I hung mini decorations on them and now that christmas is over I hang jewellery on it. CraftyHabit.blogspot.com

Oh my gosh, so I just came across your blog, and i LOVE it! I absolutely love this idea! I'm just moving into a new apartment and i'm so excited to try my own! I'll be back to your blog frequently i'm so sure!

Neat! I was just browsing around to see what a jewelry tree was and found your blog. Cute! I have a request for something like this, but I use recycled products in my artwork. I love natural too. I always wanted big branches to go at the head of my bed as a headboard.

Its a very appealing way of displaying one’s jewelry. And if we make it by ourself then we can add more colors and designing concepts in trees. Very natural sort of way to call the customers attention. Thanks for introducing these cool trees and telling the ways how to make them. Like the post !!!

Hey there I found your webpage by chance, I was browsing the net for New Fashion Designers when I found your webpage, I must say your webpage is really intriguing I truely think the layout, its astounding!. I’m strapped for time right now to totally absorb your website but I have bookmarked it and also subscribed for your RSS feeds. I will be back when I have more time. Thanks for a great blog.

I just searched for a perfect branch and after de-leafing two of them I finally found the perfect branch. I am SO SO SO excited to make this jewelry tree! We sell our jewelry at craft shows and I’m going to use my tree to display our jewelry! Thanks for this post-it really inspired me!

hi there!
i really love this. i lived in new york city for a few months in collage and i remember going into a fabulous furniture store in soho. the whole store had these giant tree branches everywhere. almost the size of trees…think 10 feet tall… i think they may have been painted silver or white and to top it off they had twinkle lights on them. they used them as art behind headboards…imgaine…like a canopy of tree branches with twinkle lights over you as you sleep….it looked so magical and i have never forgotten it. your’s is like a little mini verson. love it. ;)

I am really pleased I stumbled across your blog! I was googling – “how to paint over laminate” and was delighted to find you had the answer! And then found this jewerlly tree too. I wanted to buy one but now I think I will have a go at making my own! I love elegant tree branches and we live near the countryside so I should be able to find something ‘just right’!

Thanks again for creating such a fabulous blog :-)
Mikaela

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Hi, I'm Kate from Northern California. I'm a bargain hunter, design lover, renovator, and incurable DIYer. I'm on a quest for diamond style on a dime, and out to make my world fabulous, for less, one DIY or decorating project at a time. Learn more.